PHOENIX, Aug. 21 (Ticker) -- Diana Taurasi ended her slump and the postseason dreams of the Minnesota Lynx.

Taurasi scored all 17 of her points in the decisive first half as the Phoenix Mercury rolled to an 83-69 victory over the Lynx, who were eliminated from playoff contention.

On-Demand Video from Lynx-Mercury: Play

The Mercury (16-15) maintained their one-game lead over Los Angeles for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Lynx (14-18) had reached the postseason each of the last two years.

Hampered by a nagging knee injury, Taurasi had averaged just 9.0 points on 15-of-36 shooting over the last five games. But the All-Star guard snapped out of it, making 6-of-9 shots in the opening half as Phoenix bolted to a 42-24 lead.

In Friday's win over San Antonio, Taurasi scored all 16 of her points in the first half.

Minnesota opened the second half with an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to 10 points with 16:56 to play. Phoenix responded with a 16-3 surge as Kamila Vodichkova scored seven points, including a three-point play that made it 61-38 with 12:13 to go.

Anna DeForge scored 16 points, Sandora Irvin added a season-high 13 off the bench and Vodichkova 11 for the Mercury, who shot 50 percent (31-of-62) and committed just nine turnovers.

Svetlana Abrosimova and Nicole Ohlde scored 14 points apiece for the Lynx, who lost for the ninth time in 12 games.